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• Introduction
• What is Mental Health?
• It’s More Common Than You Think
• Why The Workplace Can Be a Breeding Ground For Poor Mental Health 
• What Can We Do To Reduce The Stigma of Mental Health in The Workplace?
• 9 Workplace Situations That Can Be Detrimental to Mental Health (And What To Do About Them)
• 6 Ways to Reduce Workplace Stress
• How Can Employers Raise Awareness And Support Mental Health Issues?
• Looking Out For One Another - Can Teamwork Help to Improve Mental Health in The Workplace?
• Conclusion 

There is a particular conversation that needs to be had. It a conversation which many people shy away from and even feel awkward about. However, this conversation is one which could, in effect, save lives. 

How mental health aware are you?

Society is slowly starting to be more open and tolerant towards talking about mental health, but it’s still a subject which has a stigma attached to it. This needs to go. Everyone has mental health; sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad, and other times it’s somewhere in the middle. Within a large and busy office, at any one time you could have a colleague (or even more than one) who is struggling with their mental health. You might not know about it because they don’t speak openly, but it’s there. 

Mental health in the workplace is something we all need to be more aware of and far more supportive of. According to mentalhealth.org.uk, 1 in every 6.8 employees will suffer mental health problems at some stage, with women more likely than men to struggle. Of course, focusing on the wellbeing of an employee is more important than money, but businesses are losing profits due to a lack of awareness - around 12.7% of all sick days can be put down to mental health issues. When you consider that sick days cost the UK economy a huge £77.5 billion every year (both physical and mental), you can see why businesses need to turn their focus. 

Check out this infographic which should open your eyes to the struggles that your colleagues sitting that their office desks may be dealing with, without you even realising. 

Source - https://www.ukcoaching.org/resources/topics/diagram-infographic/promoting-good-mental-health-through-coaching-1

Helping those who are struggling with mental health is one aspect, but how can you add support into the workplace for those who aren’t speaking out? This guide is your go-to option for everything mental health in the workplace related. It’s time to break down the stigma and start putting into place mechanisms that help support employees going through a hard time. After all, your employees are your company’s great asset. 

What is Mental Health?

Let’s roll back a little. 

What exactly is mental health? Do we only have mental health when it’s bad, or is it there all the time?

It’s a common misconception that mental health is only something you have when you’re struggling, but we all have mental health 100% of the time! Just as we have physical health, our mental health can fluctuate in terms of how healthy or otherwise it is. Some people are diagnosed with long-term mental health problems, such as bipolar, schizophrenia, or chronic depression, etc. However, it’s also possible to have a period of time when you’re struggling with your mental health, perhaps through stress or anxiety, as two examples. 

Nobody is immune to dealing with mental health issues in the workplace. The focus needs to be on awareness, support, and openness. 

Check out this video for a more detailed look at what mental health is. 

Sitting at your office chairs, trying to do your work but finding that you simply can’t focus because your elsewhere is a common issue. However, when your mind won’t give you a break from constant negativity and upset, it can easily cause you to make uncharacteristic mistakes, lead to conflicts within the office and of course, makes life extremely unpleasant for you in general. All of this is not only detrimental to a business from a productivity point fo view, but it’s not something anyone should have to deal with at work or otherwise. 

Suffering in silence is not an option - we need to understand the nuances of mental health in the workplace and support each other through hard times.

It’s More Common Than You Think

If you think that mental health issues are never going to affect you, you’re burying your head in the sand. Think back to our introduction section and the statistics there. Mental health problems are far more common than you think and at some point in everyone’s life, there will be a period when they struggle to some degree. 

For some people, this could be a mild, fleeting episode of depression which sorts itself out once a particular issue is resolved. For others, it could be a constant battle with negativity that drags them down into the depths of despair. There is a huge spectrum of severity and nobody is immune from the possibility of ending up somewhere along it. 

The modern office can be a stressful and high pressure place. Hopefully, you have top quality management in place who understand that focusing upon employee health and wellbeing is important. For some people, that isn't the reality. Poor management, focused more on profits than wellbeing, can create a situation that allows mental health to worsen. 

Sitting around the modern boardroom tables on a Monday morning being berated as a team for everything you’re doing wrong can easily cause a negative mindset to creep in. Once that happens, it's open game for mental health to worsen. We’re not just talking about morale here (which is bad enough), but something which can drastically and severely affect a person’s quality of life, their relationships, their happiness, and their physical health too. 

Again, let’s really push this point home with another infographic packed with useful information. You can never be too informed where mental health is concerned. 

Source - https://wearepurple.org.uk/mental-health-at-work-infographic/

Why The Workplace Can Be a Breeding Ground For Poor Mental Health 

Mental health is an issue outside of the workplace too, but whilst you’re at work, the conditions you’re in can have a very strong effect on how you feel. If you’re already struggling with a personal issue, your working situation can make everything seem completely hopeless. 

So, what it is about the workplace that can cause mental health to become an issue?

Pressure, stress, unrealistic expectations, unattainable deadlines, office conflicts, workplace bullying, a lack of job satisfaction, no training opportunities, and uncomfortable office design are all triggers for mental health troubles. If someone is going through a hard time at home or in their general personal life, it’s not possible to compartmentalise when you go into work. In that case, their personal issues could easily spill over when a small misunderstanding happens between colleagues. Before you know it, you have a huge office conflict on your hands and that in itself can be extremely upsetting for all involved. 

Most of us have a small amount of Imposter Syndrome at some point. We somehow feel that we don’t deserve our success and we’re worried that we’re going to be called out on it. For some people, that isn’t just a small amount, it's a huge amount. Living with the constant worry that someone is going to tap you on the shoulder and call you a fraud can be extremely debilitating to mental health. Of course, the likelihood is that you do deserve your success, but it’s hard to convince your mind to believe that when it’s an idea that’s deeply rooted. 

For some, sitting around the modern boardroom tables can be a release or an escape from their home troubles, but many find that it simply exacerbates them. It could also be that you have a perfectly happy home life, but your work situation causes you to feel dissatisfied and down, which then spills over into your personal life. 

Poor mental health affects every part of your life. It’s something you can’t switch off from and it’s not something you are ever allowed a break from. The good news is that there is a way back towards the light. By speaking out about your problems, finding support in those around you, trying self-help methods, and seeking medical help if necessary, mental health conditions don’t have to be a life sentence.

Every single business needs to have a mental health awareness policy and people should be trained in the same. In addition, managers need to be sympathetic and supportive to employees and not force people to keep everything to themselves, out of fear of judgement.

What Can We Do To Reduce The Stigma of Mental Health in The Workplace?

We know that mental health in the workplace is an issue we all need to work on, but what about getting rid of that stigma first? The first step towards helping someone with a mental health condition is allow them to feel that they're in a safe and supportive space. That allows them to open up and talk about how they feel. For many people, simply speaking about their feelings can be enough to help them to start overcoming the issue. Of course, others may need more in-depth help, but speaking out is always part of the recovery process. 

Here are a few ways you can help your workplace become a stigma-free zone when to mental health issues. 

• Have mental health awareness training for all employees
• Encourage everyone to be empathetic to those struggling with mental health 
• Create a culture of openness and communication, without fear of judgement or shame
• Actively discourage jokes or disparaging remarks about mental health in general 
• Ensure the business is focused on continually educating employees about mental health n the workplace 
• Build up a sense of team spirit to encourage employees to speak to one another and to spot the potential signs that someone is struggling

All of these ideas help employees to feel able to speak up when they're struggling, rather than bottling everything up and avoiding talking about how they feel. Remember, your employees don’t just sit at their office desks every single day and then go home. You want them to be an active participant in the development of the business and they can’t/won’t do that if you don’t help them to feel supported and looked after. 

Mental health stigmas have no place in any office.  

9 Workplace Situations That Can Be Detrimental to Mental Health (And What To Do About Them)

We’ve talked a lot about what mental health is and why it’s important to be more aware of it in the workplace and support one another. However, it's just as important to be aware of particular situations which can detrimentally affect someone’s mental health. Having this awareness means you can either avoid these situations, or simply know what to do should they arise. 

Before we get to that point, check out this video which will really open your eyes to the everyday battle that someone goes through when they’re struggling with mental health at work. 

Situation 1 - Office Conflict 

When two or more employees are in a conflict, either through a full-blown argument or a simple misunderstanding, it makes work extremely difficult and negative. The entire office somehow ends up involved, even if they try not to be, and it’s easy for employees to feel attacked, singled out, or ganged up on. This can easily cause stress, lower someone’s mood and could lead to depression and anxiety. 

It’s important that employees know that they should try and sort out small conflicts themselves and work together to simply put the issue to one side. However, in cases where that’s not possible, managers need to act quickly and solve the conflict, in an unbiased way. Never allow a conflict to fester!

Situation 2 - Not Being Able to Speak Up During Meetings/Brainstorming Sessions

Every office has one or two employees that are louder than the rest. There are often employees who are a little quieter or even shy. If someone wants to speak up and put forward their ideas in a brainstorming sessions around the boardroom chairs or in a meeting, but they find that they’re always drowned out by the noise around them, it can easily lead them to feel disengaged, not listened to, and lacking in confidence. This is a fast track to potential depression. 

Whoever is chairing the meeting or leading the brainstorming session need to be aware of all members and actively try and involve everyone. Be aware of body language and work out if someone looks like they’re trying to get involved but can’t see to get a word in. 

Situation 3 - Being Given an Unrealistic Deadline

Whenever a task with a deadline is given to someone, it’s vital that the deadline is realistic. If the task is needed extremely quickly, it’s far better to pull more than one employee in to help with the task and therefore share the workload. Piling on the pressure by giving just one person a very short deadline will lead to stress and anxiety. 

There are more desks in the office than just one, so look to share the work by breaking it down into chunks and distributing it evenly. Better still, give a realistic deadline and don’t expect miracles!

Situation 4 - Noticing That You Have a Greater Workload Than Everyone Else

It’s possible that there are one or two employees in the office who are extremely diligent and always get the job done. Every office has these types of employees - they’re reliable and extremely good at what they do. However, that doesn’t mean you should pile the pressure onto those employees and take advantage of their loyalty. 

Every single employee in the office needs to have an equal workload. If you have employees who regularly do less than everyone else (there’s usually always one), then approach that person and encourage them to get involved and participate more. It’s easy to just give tasks to the reliable ones because you know it will get done, but you should give their mental health a thought and ask whether you’re putting too much pressure onto them. 

Situation 5 - Workplace Bullying

It’s as simple as this - there is no place within any organisation for workplace bullying of any kind. Employers need to be aware of this and stamp it out as soon as it is brought to their attention. There also needs to be an anti-bullying policy in place and all employees should be on the look out for signs and to stick up for one another if they see it happening.

Bullying in any setting can lead to very severe consequences. A person who has been bullied for a long time can become so depressed that it can, in some severe cases, cause them to consider taking their own life. Never underestimate the power of bullying and never assume that it’s just lighthearted name calling. It’s not, it’s serious and it has no place anywhere, at any age. 

Situation 6 - A Lack of Career Progression Opportunities

If a person has been doing the same job for a while, it's normal to become a little bored. In that case, they may start looking for other challenges but not necessarily want to leave the organisation. The most natural thing in the world is to work towards a promotion opportunity, working your way up through the business. But, what if there are no opportunities for career progression at all? What if managers actively try to keep their employees in their jobs but don’t do a lot to help challenge them?

Workplace boredom and a lack of job satisfaction can easily lead to feeling down and hopeless. This can also turn into anxiety because you start worrying that this is how your life is always going to be. It’s normal to want to keep your best employees but you also have to recognise the fact that they may want to challenge themselves. Every manager should support their employees in career progression. That doesn't mean pressuring them or pushing them, but offering them training opportunities and helping them to challenge themselves. 

Situation 7 - Uncomfortable Working Situations 

What about how the office is designed? If the office is small, dark, cramped, and everyone is always falling over each other because there’s no space to move, would that be a good place to spend your working days? No! It’s entirely possible to have your mood affected by the place you work. That doesn’t have to be about the work itself, the people, or the things that happen, it can be about how the workplace is designed. 

If you’re constantly sitting at office chairs that give you backache every day, that’s going to cause chronic pain which can then lead to depression over the long-term. Nobody wants to be uncomfortable and aching every single day. If the office is dark, not letting in much natural light or fresh air, that could also contribute towards seasonal affective disorder (SAD). 

Look at your office and see how it can be improved. Ask your employees what they think and be sure to listen to their suggestions and act upon them, wherever possible. At the end of the day, when someone is comfortable and supported in their work, they’re going to do a better job for you. 

Situation 8 - Not Being Supported After Making a Mistake or a Negative Experience (Poor Management)

One of the main reasons why an employee leaves a business is down to poor management. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes and everyone goes through difficult experiences at work. However, a good manager will support that employee and help them to work through any difficult emotions they feel related to that issue, and to avoid them feeling as though they’ve failed or somehow come up short.

For instance, if an employee makes a mistake, they’re going to feel extremely upset about it. If not dealt with properly, that can fester and affect their self-esteem and confidence, leading to depression. In this situation, a manager should do all they can to help the employee understand the mistake, learn what they could have done better, and implement that, without judgement or harsh words. Trust us, they’re feeling bad enough about it without a manager piling on the negativity. 

The same can be said for someone who has gone through a difficult experience, e.g. an abusive customer may have said something to them or even stacked them physically. In this case, managers need to do what they can to support the employee, offer counselling if necessary, and put measures into place to ensure that the same thing doesn't happen again. There are always lessons that can be learned. 

Situation 9 - Problems at Home 

Of course, it’s entirely possible that an employee is struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, or another mental health issue because of something that is going on at home. It’s not always easy to leave your worries at the door when you go to work and it's perfectly normal for things to spill over occasionally. 

This is where an open door policy comes in very handy indeed. Instead of managers sitting at their executive office desks and never being visible, they should let employees know that if they need to speak to them, their door is always open (metaphorically speaking, of course). This type of situation helps employees to feel more comfortable about talking about their issues. 

Managers may also be able to offer confidential counselling services for those employees who feel they need it, or simply be sympathetic to their needs. This could mean offering a period of home working, reduced hours, etc. It's really about being open to options that could help the employee to overcome the challenge they’re facing and recover more quickly. 

How Can Employers Raise Awareness of Mental Health Issues?

We’ve just talked about some of the common situations that can cause mental health to worsen in the workplace, such as anxiety and depression and stress in particular, but what can employers do to actually raise awareness of the problem and help employees to support one another and feel able to talk about their problems?

Managers need to not only raise awareness but also lead by example. Here are a few ways you can do that. 

• Have a mental health the workplace policy - Every workplace should have a mental health in the workplace policy. This should set out the help that is available for any employee who feels they need it, but should also focus on the importance of knocking down the stigma. This policy should be given to all employees and amended regularly, as the need arises. 
• Have regular mental health awareness training - As part of employee yearly training and the training of new employees, mental health awareness should be included. You can have a specialist come into the organisation to lead this training session or you can put together your own. The point is that having this awareness training does what it says on the tin - it raises awareness and encourages people talk to about how they’re feeling. 
• Regularly ask employees what needs to be improved - A good manager isn’t afraid to sit down with employees around the boardroom furniture and ask what they think. What needs to be improved about the workflow, the office design, and everything else in the space? How can stress be relieved? What do employees need? Suggestions should be listened to and actioned upon wherever possible. This also helps employees to feel listened to and supported, which goes a long way. 
• Have regular team building days - A team which works closely together will look out for one another and support each other when they’re not feeling quite so strong. It also means that employees feel more able to talk to one another. Regular team building days could help to strengthen the bond between employees and build team spirit.
• Offer confidential counselling services to those who feel they need it - Having access to confidential counselling services could be the difference between an employee getting the help they need or continuing to struggle and going into a very dark place. These services are not connected to the workplace at all but are simply a service that can be accessed should an employee feel they need it. 
• Have a health and wellbeing package in place - A workplace health and wellbeing package can do a lot for the happiness of an employee, their physical health and their mental health too. This includes the aforementioned counselling opportunities but also information on stress management, perhaps access to cut priced gym membership, health care, and other necessary advice or services. These are all things which help an employee to manage their day to day work and home lives, whilst reducing workplace stress in a big way. Of course, it also helps them to feel valued. 
• The open door policy - We’ve mentioned this already, but supporting mental health in the workplace means being accessible and open to listening. Your door doesn't literally have to be open, but employees should feel that they can knock on the door or make an appointment to see you without being pushed away because you’re too busy or not too concerned about listening. When it comes to managing mental health in the workplace, an approachable and understanding manager can make all the difference. 

These few suggestions help you to learn how to promote mental health and wellbeing in the workplace, whilst making the space a much more supportive place to work. 

Conclusion

Mental health in the workplace is something we should all take a little more seriously. You have no idea how your colleague sitting at their office desk is really feeling. Some people are very good at saying “I’m fine” when in truth they’re struggling badly. Being able to spot the signs that someone isn’t feeling fantastic is important, such as reading body language and simply having that strong team bond that helps you to work out when something isn't quite right. 

Mental health awareness isn’t something that should be overlooked. The stigma, although reduced, is still there and it needs to be knocked down. Everyone should feel able to talk about how they feel without fear of judgement or ridicule, and that means educating everyone on what mental health is and how it can affect someone’s life. 

Employers need to offer mental health support and generally raise awareness of the issue, whilst being aware of the types of situations which could lead to someone struggling with worsened mental health. 

We spend a huge amount of time in the workplace. That means we need to support one another when we’re feeling low, and build one another up.